Ninth Level Ireland

“The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has welcomed the appointment of Mary Mitchell-O’Connor as Minister with special responsibility for Higher Education in the new government. Mike Jennings, General Secretary of IFUT, said the appointment of a dedicated Minister for the sector represents a recognition of the many challenges and dire financial situation in higher education …” (more)

[Irish Federation of University Teachers, 14 June]

“The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has demanded full restoration of payments and allowances which were cut from university staff in recent years in the coming pay talks. IFUT General Secretary, Mike Jennings, said that not alone have university staff suffered very substantial cuts in salaries but working conditions had deteriorated drastically at the same time …” (more)

[Irish Federation of University Teachers, 16 May]

“The patience of those working in the higher education sector is at an end after experiencing years of cutbacks, the general secretary of the Irish Federation of University Teachers has warned. Speaking at its annual conference at the weekend, Mike Jennings said the reward for staff for 10 years of sacrifice and patience is that 72% of Irish academics witnessed a decline in their working conditions …” (more)

[Martin Wall, Irish Times, 7 May]

“The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has expressed grave concerns at the Executive order signed by new US President, Donald Trump, prohibiting citizens of seven countries from entering the USA. Mike Jennings said the ban has immediate implications for the entry of students and academic staff to the US, including people living in Ireland …” (more)

[Irish Federation of University Teachers, 1 February]

“Sir, – Mike Jennings (January 26th), general secretary of the Irish Federation of University Teachers, has come out strongly against University College Cork’s decision to indefinitely postpone – on safety and security grounds – the proposed March conference, ‘International Law and the State of Israel: Legitimacy, Responsibility and Exceptionalism’ …” (more)

[Kevin McCarthy, Irish Times, 27 January]

“Sir, – The Irish Federation of University Teachers is deeply concerned at attempts to block the holding of an important conference entitled ‘International Law and the State of Israel: Legitimacy, Exceptionalism, Responsibility’, which is scheduled to take place in University College Cork from March 31st to April 2nd …” (more)

[Letters, Irish Times, 26 January]

“Mike Jennings, General Secretary of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) said that IFUT fully backs the USI demonstration today (Oct 19th) against underfunding of third-level education and proposals to introduce student loans …” (more)

[Irish Federation of University Teachers, 19 October]

“The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has described the allocation of an additional €36.5m funding to third-level education in today’s budget as ‘like offering a wet sponge to a man dying of thirst’ …” (more)

[Irish Federation of University Teachers, 11 October]

“The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has launched a Charter for casual workers in UCC, saying that at least one-third of staff delivering teaching to students are now employed on a purely casual basis …” (more)

[Irish Federation of University Teachers, 5 October]

“Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton should publicly commit to increase funding for Irish universities in advance of next month’s Budget, Mike Jennings, General Secretary of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has said, following the release of new ratings figures showing there is now no Irish university in the Top 200 internationally …” (more)

[IFUT, 21 September]

“The standing of Irish universities in the world rankings has been described as a disaster and inevitable by Mike Jennings, general secretary of Irish Federation of University Teachers …” (more)

[Vivienne Clarke, Irish Times, 6 September]

“Brexit is having an immediate impact on the career plans of some post-graduate students and academics in Ireland. Britain’s planned exit from the European Union has triggered a rethink among some who have a career or doctorate degree study offer for a British university …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 2 July]

“University teachers may have to close third-level colleges in the short term through strikes to ensure they survive in the longer terms, their trade union has stated. The general secretary of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) Mike Jennings said funding in the sector had been decimated over recent years while resources, staff and students were stretched to an unprecedented extent …” (more)

[Martin Wall, Irish Times, 7 May]

“Third level teachers are calling on the new Minister for Education to restore funding to the sector. They say years of austerity has significantly reduced the quality of teaching they can provide for students …” (more)

[BreakingNews.ie, 7 May]

“The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has said that the demotion of education to a single sentence reference in the ‘Confidence and Supply’ agreement on government between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael is a major snub to education, teachers and students …” (more)

[The text of the agreement is here]
[Irish Federation of University Teachers, 4 May]

“Mike Jennings, General Secretary of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT), has called on the leaders of the four main political parties to immediately explain and correct the neglect of third-level education following an independent assessment of their Manifestos on national radio today …” (more)

[Irish Federation of University Teachers, 24 February]

“The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has called on the Fine Gael and Labour to announce proposals to address the mounting crisis in third-level education, ahead of the announcement of this year’s general election …” (more)

[Matthew Mulligan, Trinity News, 31 January]

“Trinity has made significant changes to its proposed introduction of a tenure-track system for entry-level academics, The University Times has learned, following widespread criticism of the impact it would have on the careers of female academics …” (more)

[Dominic McGrath, University Times, 26 January]

“Sir, – The Irish Federation of University Teachers wishes to draw attention to the escalating crisis in the third-level education system. The next government must immediately address the devastation of underfunding and understaffing that has resulted from years of budgetary cutbacks in the sector …” (more)

[Mike Jennings, Irish Times, 25 January]

“As Fine Gael and Labour Party delegates prepare to meet for pre-election conferences later this month, the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) wishes to draw their attention to the escalating crisis in third-level education …” (more)

[Mike Jennings, Irish Examiner, 20 JAnuary]